Mail-box.



G. N. THORSON.

\ MAIL BOX. APPLICATION FILED FEB.23,1912.

1,050,252. I Patented Jan. 14,1913;

7 7/ i (1 1/. am, y 5%; ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' GUSTAVE N. THORSON. OF OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS.

MAIL-BOX.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAVE N. Tnonsox,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Overland Park, in the county of Johnson and State of- Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My' invention relates to improvements in mail boxes.

My invention, while applicable to different uses, may be used advantageously on rural routes.

One object of my invention is to provide a construction which will enable the mail matter to be received and delivered with dispatch, and which will enable a carrier to remove the letters and other mail from the box without having to remove his gloves.

Other objects of my invention are hereinafter fully set forth.

-In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the preferred form of my invention,

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of my improved mail box, the parts being shown in the closed position. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view, shown in the open position, with mail matter supported on the tray. Fig. 3 is an end elevation with the closure raised and the signal 'sietin the raised position- Fig. 4 is a perspective view, reduced, of the mail box shown in the closed position with the signal lowered.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views.

1 designates the body of the box, which may be of any convenient shape, preferably rectangular, as shown, and which may be of any suitable material. Preferably the sides, 'ends, roof and closure are of galvanized iron or other metal. The bottom of the body may be of wood, or it may also be of metal. The body t is rovided at one end with an opening 2 which is adapted to be closed 'by a closure 3, preferably hinged at its upper edge by hinges 4 to. the body 1 at the upper end of said opening 2, the axes of the hinges being disposed horizontally. With this" construction, the closure 3 will tend to move by gravity from the open position, shown in 'Fig. 2to the closed position shown in Fig. 1. In the body 1 is mounted a tray 5 which 5 is horizontally movable inwardly and'outwardly through the opening 2 upon the upspecification of Letters Patent. Application filed February 23, 1912.

said rod. The roof of the box Patented Jan. 14, 1913. Serial No. 679,218.

will assist in forcing the tray to the inner position.

The tray 5 near its outer end is provided with means for supporting in a raised position mail matter deposited thereon. Preferabl-y this supporting means comprises a transverse portion raised in the body of the bottom of the tray, said raised portion being designated by 7. Mail matter such as a letter 8, shown in Fig. 2, when placed on the support 7 will have its outer end raised, so that the carrier may easily grasp it without having to remove his gloves. This saves much time in cold weather.

In order to securely and releasably' hold the mail matter, such as letters, upon the support 7, I provide yielding means, such as a spring tongue or clip 9, one end of which is secured to the upper side of the tray 5. at the rear of the support 7. The forward end of the tongue or clip 9 is free, so that letters may have their inner ends inserted thereunder.

An inverted U shaped bail lO'has its ends secured to opposite sides of the tray 5, preferably at the rear of the support 7. This bail serves to embrace mail matter, such as papers, so as to securely hold' them on the tray. The bailfurthe'r serves to retain the mail matter, such as rolled or folded newspapers, in smaller compass than the size of the end opening 2, thereby preventing'the mail matter from expanding, after the tray carrying it is moved to theinner position, to such an extent as would make it catch on the box above said opening and prevent withdrawal of the tray to take out the mail.

Pivoted at its lower end to the open end of the body 1, is a r 11 havin a flag 12 which serves as a si al to notify rier or the owner of the box as p or not there is mail in the box. To hold the signal rod 11 in the vertical position, the

the carto whether" roof of the body has a notch 13 directly above the pivot 14 of the rod: for receiving also has at one side of the pivot 14 another notch 15 for receiving and holding the rod 11 in the lowered position, as shown in Fig. 4. Either position of the flag may be employed to indicate that letters are in the box.

111 operating the invention, the closure 3 is swung to the open position, thus sliding the tray 5 to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which'position, the mail supported on the tray may be readily removed, and mail matter inserted in the tray. The closure is then swung to the closed position shown in Fig. 1, thus sliding the tray to the inner position shown in Fi l.

I do not limit .my invention to the structure shown and described, as modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What Lela-intend desire to secure by Letters Patient,

"-A box having an end opening, a tray mlsvabl'e inwardly and outwardly through said end opening, the tray having adjacent its outer end means for supporting mail matter in. a raised position, and an invertedU shaped bail secured at its ends to opposite sides of the tray, for embracing mail matter deposited on said supporting means and retaining it in smaller compass than the size of said opening.

In testimony I have signed my name to this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' GUSTAVE N. THORSON.

Witnesses v E. B. HOUSE,

R. E. HAMILTON. 

